CYP2E1

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Cytochrome P450 2E1 (EC 1.14.14.1) (4-nitrophenol 2-hydroxylase) (EC 1.14.13.n7) (CYPIIE1) (Cytochrome P450-J) [CYP2E]

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DNA methylation and histone acetylation changes to cytochrome P450 2E1 regulation in normal aging and impact on rates of drug metabolism in the liver.

Aging is associated with reduced liver function that may increase the risk for adverse drug reactions in older adults. We hypothesized that age-related changes to epigenetic regulation of genes involved in drug metabolism may contribute to this effect. We reviewed published epigenome-wide studies of human blood and identified the cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) gene as a top locus exhibiting epigenetic changes with age. To investigate potential functional changes with age in the liver, the primary organ of drug metabolism, we obtained liver tissue from mice aged 4-32 months from the National Institute on Aging. We assayed global DNA methylation (5-methylcytosine, 5mC), hydroxymethylation (5-hydroxymethylcytosine, 5hmC), and locus-specific 5mC and histone acetylation changes around mouse Cyp2e1. The mouse livers exhibit significant global decreases in 5mC and 5hmC with age. Furthermore, 5mC significantly increased with age at two regulatory regions of Cyp2e1 in tandem with decreases in its gene and protein expressions. H3K9ac levels also changed with age at both regulatory regions of Cyp2e1 investigated, while H3K27ac did not. To test if these epigenetic changes are associated with varying rates of drug metabolism, we assayed clearance of the CYP2E1-specific probe drug chlorzoxazone in microsome extracts from the same livers. CYP2E1 intrinsic clearance is associated with DNA methylation and H3K9ac levels at the Cyp2e1 locus but not with chronological age. This suggests that age-related epigenetic changes may influence rates of hepatic drug metabolism. In the future, epigenetic biomarkers could prove useful to guide dosing regimens in older adults.


Keywords

  • Aging
  • Cyp2e1
  • DNA methylation
  • Drug metabolism
  • Histone acetylation
  • Pharmacokinetics


Age-associated changes of cytochrome P450 and related phase-2 gene/proteins in livers of rats.

Cytochrome P450s (CYPs) are phase-I metabolic enzymes playing important roles in drug metabolism, dietary chemicals and endogenous molecules. Age is a key factor influencing P450s expression. Thus, age-related changes of CYP 1-4 families and bile acid homeostasis-related CYPs, the corresponding nuclear receptors and a few phase-II genes were examined. Livers from male Sprague-Dawley rats at fetus (-2 d), neonates (1, 7, and 14 d), weanling (21 d), puberty (28 and 35 d), adulthood (60 and 180 d), and aging (540 and 800 d) were collected and subjected to qPCR analysis. Liver proteins from 14, 28, 60, 180, 540 and 800 days of age were also extracted for selected protein analysis by western blot. In general, there were three patterns of their expression: Some of the drug-metabolizing enzymes and related nuclear receptors were low in fetal and neonatal stage, increased with liver maturation and decreased quickly at aging (AhR, Cyp1a1, Cyp2b1, Cyp2b2, Cyp3a1, Cyp3a2, Ugt1a2); the majority of P450s (Cyp1a2, Cyp2c6, Cyp2c11, Cyp2d2, Cyp2e1, CAR, PXR, FXR, Cyp7a1, Cyp7b1. Cyp8b1, Cyp27a1, Ugt1a1, Sult1a1, Sult1a2) maintained relatively high levels throughout the adulthood, and decreased at 800 days of age; and some had an early peak between 7 and 14 days (CAR, PXR, PPARα, Cyp4a1, Ugt1a2). The protein expression of CYP1A2, CYP2B1, CYP2E1, CYP3A1, CYP4A1, and CYP7A1 corresponded the trend of mRNA changes. In summary, this study characterized three expression patterns of 16 CYPs, five nuclear receptors, and four phase-II genes during development and aging in rat liver, adding to our understanding of age-related CYP expression changes and age-related disorders.


Keywords

  • Aging
  • Cytochrome P450’s
  • Nuclear receptors
  • Ontogeny
  • Rat liver
  • mRNA/protein expression


2, 3, 4', 5-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-0-β-d Glycoside Attenuates Age- and Diet-Associated Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis and Atherosclerosis in LDL Receptor Knockout Mice and Its Possible Mechanisms.

The compound, 2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-d-glucoside (TSG), a primary bioactive polyphenolic component of [i]Polygonum multiflorum[/i] exerts numerous pharmacological activities. However, its protective effect against non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), in the context of metabolic syndrome, remains poorly understood. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effects of TSG treatment on middle-aged (12-mo-old) male LDLr mice, which were fed a high fat diet for 12 weeks to induce metabolic syndrome and NASH. At the end of the experiment, the blood samples of mice were collected for determination of metabolic parameters. Liver and aorta tissues were collected for analysis, such as histology, immunofluorescence, hepatic lipid content, real-time PCR, and western blot. Our data show that TSG treatment improved the different aspects of NASH (steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis) and atherosclerosis, as well as some of the metabolic basal characteristics. These modulatory effects of TSG are mediated, at least in part, through regulating key regulators of lipid metabolism (SREBP1c, PPARα and their target genes, ABCG5 and CYP7A1), inflammation (CD68, TNF-α, IL-6 and ICAM), fibrosis (α-SMA and TNFβ) and oxidative stress (NADPH-oxidase 2/4, CYP2E1 and antioxidant enzymes). These results suggest that TSG may be a promising candidate for preventing and treating the progression of NASH.

MeSH Terms

  • Aging
  • Animals
  • Aorta
  • Atherosclerosis
  • Diet, High-Fat
  • Glucosides
  • Lipid Metabolism
  • Liver
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
  • Receptors, LDL
  • Stilbenes

Keywords

  • atherosclerosis
  • metabolic syndrome
  • nonalcoholic steatohepatitis


Neuroprotective Effect of Dioscin on the Aging Brain.

Our previous works have shown that dioscin, a natural product, has various pharmacological activities, however, its role in brain aging has not been reported. In the present study, in vitro H₂O₂-treated PC12 cells and in vivo d-galactose-induced aging rat models were used to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of dioscin on brain aging. The results showed that dioscin increased cell viability and protected PC12 cells against oxidative stress through decreasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels. In vivo, dioscin markedly improved the spatial learning ability and memory of aging rats, reduced the protein carbonyl content and aging cell numbers, restored the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in brain tissue, and reversed the histopathological structure changes of nerve cells. Mechanism studies showed that dioscin markedly adjusted the MAPK and Nrf2/ARE signalling pathways to decrease oxidative stress. Additionally, dioscin also significantly decreased inflammation by inhibiting the mRNA or protein levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, CYP2E1 and HMGB1. Taken together, these results indicate that dioscin showed neuroprotective effect against brain aging via decreasing oxidative stress and inflammation, which should be developed as an efficient candidate in clinical to treat brain aging in the future.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Biological Products
  • Brain
  • Cell Survival
  • Cytokines
  • Diosgenin
  • Galactose
  • Glutathione Peroxidase
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • Male
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Oxidative Stress
  • PC12 Cells
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Signal Transduction
  • Superoxide Dismutase

Keywords

  • brain aging
  • dioscin
  • inflammation
  • neuroprotection
  • oxidative stress


Cytochrome P450-2E1 is involved in aging-related kidney damage in mice through increased nitroxidative stress.

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of cytochrome P450-2E1 (CYP2E1) in aging-dependent kidney damage since it is poorly understood. Young (7 weeks) and aged female (16-17 months old) wild-type (WT) and Cyp2e1-null mice were used. Kidney histology showed that aged WT mice exhibited typical signs of kidney aging such as cell vacuolation, inflammatory cell infiltration, cellular apoptosis, glomerulonephropathy, and fibrosis, along with significantly elevated levels of renal TNF-α and serum creatinine than all other groups. Furthermore, the highest levels of renal hydrogen peroxide, protein carbonylation and nitration were observed in aged WT mice. These increases in the aged WT mice were accompanied by increased levels of iNOS and mitochondrial nitroxidative stress through altered amounts and activities of the mitochondrial complex proteins and significantly reduced levels of the antioxidant glutathione (GSH). In contrast, the aged Cyp2e1-null mice exhibited significantly higher antioxidant capacity with elevated heme oxygenase-1 and catalase activities compared to all other groups, while maintaining normal GSH levels with significantly less mitochondrial nitroxidative stress compared to the aged WT mice. Thus, CYP2E1 is important in causing aging-related kidney damage most likely through increasing nitroxidative stress and that CYP2E1 could be a potential target in preventing aging-related kidney diseases.

MeSH Terms

  • Aging
  • Animals
  • Antioxidants
  • Apoptosis
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1
  • Female
  • Glutathione
  • Heme Oxygenase-1
  • Humans
  • Kidney Diseases
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mitochondria
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Protein Carbonylation
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Keywords

  • Aging
  • Apoptosis
  • CYP2E1
  • Fibrosis
  • Kidney
  • Oxidative stress


Cytochrome P450-2E1 promotes aging-related hepatic steatosis, apoptosis and fibrosis through increased nitroxidative stress.

The role of ethanol-inducible cytochrome P450-2E1 (CYP2E1) in promoting aging-dependent hepatic disease is unknown and thus was investigated in this study. Young (7 weeks) and aged female (16 months old) wild-type (WT) and Cyp2e1-null mice were used in this study to evaluate age-dependent changes in liver histology, steatosis, apoptosis, fibrosis and many nitroxidative stress parameters. Liver histology showed that aged WT mice exhibited markedly elevated hepatocyte vacuolation, ballooning degeneration, and inflammatory cell infiltration compared to all other groups. These changes were accompanied with significantly higher hepatic triglyceride and serum cholesterol in aged WT mice although serum ALT and insulin resistance were not significantly altered. Aged WT mice showed the highest rates of hepatocyte apoptosis and hepatic fibrosis. Further, the highest levels of hepatic hydrogen peroxide, lipid peroxidation, protein carbonylation, nitration, and oxidative DNA damage were observed in aged WT mice. These increases in the aged WT mice were accompanied by increased levels of mitochondrial nitroxidative stress and alteration of mitochondrial complex III and IV proteins in aged WT mice, although hepatic ATP levels seems to be unchanged. In contrast, the aging-related nitroxidative changes were very low in aged Cyp2e1-null mice. These results suggest that CYP2E1 is important in causing aging-dependent hepatic steatosis, apoptosis and fibrosis possibly through increasing nitroxidative stress and that CYP2E1 could be a potential target for translational research in preventing aging-related liver disease.

MeSH Terms

  • Aging
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1
  • Fatty Liver
  • Female
  • Hepatocytes
  • Lipid Peroxidation
  • Mice, 129 Strain
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Protein Carbonylation

Keywords

  • Aging
  • Apoptosis
  • CYP2E1
  • Fibrosis
  • Liver
  • Nitroxidative stress
  • Steatohepatitis


Cell type-specific expression and localization of cytochrome P450 isoforms in tridimensional aggregating rat brain cell cultures.

Within the Predict-IV FP7 project a strategy for measurement of in vitro biokinetics was developed, requiring the characterization of the cellular model used, especially regarding biotransformation, which frequently depends on cytochrome P450 (CYP) activity. The extrahepatic in situ CYP-mediated metabolism is especially relevant in target organ toxicity. In this study, the constitutive mRNA levels and protein localization of different CYP isoforms were investigated in 3D aggregating brain cell cultures. CYP1A1, CYP2B1/B2, CYP2D2/4, CYP2E1 and CYP3A were expressed; CYP1A1 and 2B1 represented almost 80% of the total mRNA content. Double-immunolabeling revealed their presence in astrocytes, in neurons, and to a minor extent in oligodendrocytes, confirming the cell-specific localization of CYPs in the brain. These results together with the recently reported formation of an amiodarone metabolite following repeated exposure suggest that this cell culture system possesses some metabolic potential, most likely contributing to its high performance in neurotoxicological studies and support the use of this model in studying brain neurotoxicity involving mechanisms of toxication/detoxication.

MeSH Terms

  • Aging
  • Animals
  • Brain
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System
  • Embryo, Mammalian
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic
  • Hepatocytes
  • Isoenzymes
  • Neurons
  • Protein Transport
  • Rats

Keywords

  • 3D aggregating brain cell cultures
  • Biokinetics
  • Cytochrome P450


Cytochrome P450 mRNA expressions along with in vitro differentiation of hepatocyte precursor cells from fetal, young and old rats.

Non-differentiated cells are attractive targets for cell therapy. During liver regeneration oval cells intensively proliferate and differentiate extending their metabolic activity. Hepatic cytochromes P450 (CYPs) can be linked either with metabolic activation of toxic compounds or drug metabolism. We investigated the differentiation and biotransformative potential of non-differentiated cells in primary cell cultures isolated from livers of fetuses (16-days-old), young (4-months-old) and old (20-months-old) rats. Under the conditions of experimental hepatocarcinogenesis, adult rats were fed for three weeks with CDE diet. Liver cells were cultured and precursor cells were differentiated to hepatocytes following induction with sodium butyrate (SB) or dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) in culture on MesenCult medium. We identified a number of cells expressing Thy-1, CD34, alpha-fetoprotein, cytokeratines--CK18 or CK19 and glutathione transferases--GSTpi or GSTalpha. In vitro differentiation of these cells, isolated from CDE-treated rats begun earlier as compared to non-treated ones. Age-dependent changes in the cell differentiation sequence, as well as CYPmRNA expression sequence accompanying precursor cells differentiation, were also observed. mRNA expression of CYP1A2, CYP2B1/2 and CYP3A1 was higher in the cells of young rats, but in the case of CYP2E1--in the cells of old rats. It was concluded that both proliferation and differentiation potential of oval cells, decreased with age.

MeSH Terms

  • Aging
  • Animals
  • Biomarkers
  • Cell Count
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System
  • Fetus
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic
  • Hepatocytes
  • Ki-67 Antigen
  • Liver
  • Male
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Stem Cells
  • alpha-Fetoproteins


Age-related changes in hepatic expression and activity of cytochrome P450 in male rats.

Age-related changes in hepatic expression and activity of cytochrome P450 (CYP) were investigated in male rats aged 3 (weanling), 12 (young), 26 (adult), and 104 (old) weeks. Levels of microsomal protein, total CYP, and cytochrome b(5) increased fully after puberty. CYP1A1 was detected only in 3-week-old rats, and CYP1A2, CYP2B1, and CYP2E1 were maximally expressed at 3 weeks but decreased at 12 and 26 weeks. CYP2C11 and CYP3A2 increased markedly after puberty and decreased with aging. Ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase, methoxyresorufin-O-demethylase, pentoxyresorufin-O-depenthylase, and p-nitrophenol hydroxylase activities were at their highest in 3-week-old rats, and midazolam hydroxylase activity was at a maximum in 12-week-old rats but decreased with aging. The present results show that increasing age caused significant alterations in hepatic expression/activity of CYP isoforms in an isoform-specific manner. These results suggest that age-related changes in hepatic CYP isoforms may be an important factor for deciding the efficacy and safety of xenobiotics.

MeSH Terms

  • Aging
  • Animals
  • Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2B1
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System
  • Cytochrome P450 Family 2
  • Isoenzymes
  • Liver
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Microsomes, Liver
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Steroid 16-alpha-Hydroxylase


Induction or inhibition of cytochrome P450 2E1 modifies the acute toxicity of acrylonitrile in rats: biochemical evidence.

The present study was designed to examine the effects of the inhibition or induction of CYP2E1 activity on acute acrylonitrile (AN) toxicity in rats. Increased or decreased hepatic CYP2E1 activity was achieved by pretreatment with acetone or trans-1,2-dichloroethylene (DCE), respectively. AN (50 mg/kg) was administered by intraperitoneal injection. Onset of convulsions and death were observed in rats with increased CYP2E1 activity, whereas convulsions and death did not appear in rats within 1 h after treatment with AN alone. Convulsions occurred in all AN-treated animals with increased CYP2E1 activity at approximately 18 min. The levels of cyanide (CN(-)), a terminal metabolite of AN, were significantly increased in the brains and livers of the AN-treated rats with increased CYP2E1 activity, compared with the levels in rats treated with AN alone, DCE AN or acetone DCE AN. The cytochrome c oxidase (CcOx) activities in the brains and livers of the rats treated with AN or AN acetone were significantly lower than those in the normal control rats and the rats treated with DCE, whereas the CcOx activities in the brains and livers of rats with decreased CYP2E1 activity were significantly higher than those in AN-treated rats. Brain lipid peroxidation was enhanced, and the antioxidant capacity was significantly compromised in rats with decreased CYP2E1 activity compared with rats with normal or increased CYP2E1 activity. Therefore, inhibition of CYP2E1 and simultaneous antioxidant therapy should be considered as supplementary therapeutic interventions in acute AN intoxication cases with higher CYP2E1 activity, thus a longer window of opportunity would be got to offer further emergency medication.

MeSH Terms

  • Acetone
  • Acrylonitrile
  • Animals
  • Brain
  • Carcinogens
  • Cyanides
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1 Inhibitors
  • Dichloroethylenes
  • Drug Interactions
  • Electron Transport Complex IV
  • Enzyme Induction
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Injections, Intraperitoneal
  • Lipid Peroxidation
  • Liver
  • Longevity
  • Male
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Seizures


Evaluation of the assumptions of an ontogeny model of rat hepatic cytochrome P450 activity.

We previously reported an ontogeny model of hepatic cytochrome P450 (P450) activity that predicts in vivo P450 elimination from in vitro intrinsic clearance. The purpose of this study was to conduct investigations into key assumptions of the P450 ontogeny model using the developing rat model system. We used two developmentally dissimilar enzymes, CYP2E1 and CYP1A2, and male rats (n = 4) at age groups representing critical developmental stages. Total body and liver weights and hepatic microsomal protein contents were measured. Following high-performance liquid chromatography analysis, apparent K(M) and V(max) estimates were calculated using nonlinear regression analysis for CYP2E1- and CYP1A2-mediated chlorzoxazone 6-hydroxylation and methoxyresorufin O-dealkylation, and V(max) estimates for p-nitrophenol and phenacetin hydroxylations, respectively. Hepatic scaling factors and V(max) values provided estimates for infant scaling factors (ISF). The data show microsomal protein contents increased with postnatal age and reached adult values after postnatal day (PD) 7. Apparent K(M) values were similar at all developmental stages except at < or =PD7. Developmental increases in probe substrate V(max) values did not correlate with the biphasic increase in immunoquantifiable P450. The activity of two different probe substrates for each P450 covaried as a function of age. A plot of observed ISF values as a function of age reflected the developmental pattern of rat hepatic P450. In summation, these observations diverge from several of the model's assumptions. Further investigations are required to explain these inconsistencies and to investigate whether the developing rat may provide a predictive paradigm for pediatric risk assessment for P450-mediated elimination processes.

MeSH Terms

  • Age Factors
  • Aging
  • Animals
  • Body Weight
  • Chlorzoxazone
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1
  • Cytochromes
  • Dealkylation
  • Hydroxylation
  • Isoenzymes
  • Kinetics
  • Liver
  • Male
  • Microsomes, Liver
  • Models, Biological
  • Nitrophenols
  • Organ Size
  • Oxazines
  • Phenacetin
  • Proteins
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Risk Assessment
  • Substrate Specificity


Ontogeny of hepatic CYP1A2 and CYP2E1 expression in rat.

We report a comprehensive examination of rat hepatic CYP1A2 and CYP2E1 ontogeny. We compare the data to human data to determine the rat's capacity as a model to identify CYP-mediated mechanisms underlying age-dependent differences in susceptibility to toxicity. We evaluated CYP expression using real-time RT-PCR, immunoblot and immunohistochemistry, and specific probe activity in male rat livers (n = 4) at critical developmental life stages. CYP2E1 mRNA expression was low at birth, then increased rapidly to peak prior to weaning. CYP1A2 transcript levels remained very low postnatally and then increased dramatically to reach peak expression during weaning. Immunoreactive CYP1A2 and CYP2E1 was first detected at postnatal day 3 (PD3), and reached 50% of adult levels after weaning, and adult levels by puberty. CYP1A2 and CYP2E1 probe activity (pmol/(min mg)) was detected at PD3 and peaked during weaning and late neonatal period, respectively. CYP activity fell to adult values by puberty, a pattern that closely mirrored the temporal changes in mRNA but not protein. An increasing preferential localization of CYP1A2 and CYP2E1 immunoreactivity in perivenous hepatocytes was observed with maturation to adulthood. Although differences in CYP1A2 and CYP2E1 ontogeny between rats and humans exist, knowledge of these differences will aid interspecies extrapolation of developmental toxicokinetic data.

MeSH Terms

  • Aging
  • Animals
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic
  • Humans
  • Liver
  • Oxidoreductases
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley


Effect of conjugated equine estrogens on oxidative metabolism in middle-aged and elderly postmenopausal women.

The effects of conjugated equine estrogens (CEE) 0.625 mg daily on cytochrome P450 (CYP) were quantified in 12 middle-aged and 13 elderly postmenopausal women at baseline and 6 months later. CYP phenotype was characterized by caffeine (CYP1A2), chlorzoxazone (CYP2E1), dapsone (CYP, N-acetyltransferase 2), dextromethorphan (CYP2D6), and mephenytoin (CYP2C19) metabolism. CEE significantly decreased CYP1A2 (caffeine metabolic ratio: 0.57 /- 0.20 before, 0.40 /- 0.20 after, P = .001) and significantly increased CYP2D6 (dextromethorphan/dextrorphan ratio: 0.0116 /- 0.0143 before, 0.0084 /- 0.0135 after, P = .022) metabolism. CEE had no overall effect on CYP2C19, CYP2E1, CYP-mediated dapsone metabolism, and N-acetyltransferase 2. The dextromethorphan metabolic ratio decreased only in the seniors. The dapsone recovery ratio decreased in the middle-aged group and increased in the seniors. CEE significantly influenced CYP1A2, CYP2D6, and CYP-mediated dapsone oxidative metabolism but not CYP2C19, CYP2E1, or N-acetyltransferase 2 metabolism in postmenopausal women. Age influenced CYP2D6 metabolism and dapsone hydroxylation.

MeSH Terms

  • Aged
  • Aging
  • Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases
  • Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C19
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1
  • Dapsone
  • Estrogens, Conjugated (USP)
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hydroxylation
  • Metabolic Detoxication, Phase I
  • Middle Aged
  • Mixed Function Oxygenases
  • Postmenopause


Ageing is associated with increased expression but decreased activity of CYP2E1 in male Wistar rats.

The effect of ageing on CYP2E1 activity and its protein and mRNA contents was investigated in both adult (9 months) and senescent (24 months) male Wistar rats. The CYP2E1 activity (as measured by chlorzoxazone hydroxylation) was significantly decreased by 36% in senescent rats as compared to adult rats. However, this decrease of activity was not associated with a loss of protein content because the amount of both CYP2E1 protein and CYP2E1 mRNA did not decrease in senescent rats but rather increased, by 79% and 64% respectively, as compared to adult rats. Lipid peroxidation was increased significantly by 140% with ageing. The decrease in CYP2E1 activity could be explained by post-translational modification of CYP2E1 proteins, due to an increase in oxidative stress in senescent animals, leading to a loss of their functionality. However, no changes in the extent of protein carbonyls were observed in the adult versus senescent rats (16.2 /- 9.6 vs. 12.7 /- 7.3 nmol/mg prot) and the major proteasome activity remained unchanged. With regards to the increase of CYP2E1 expression, our results showed that the amount of hepatocyte nuclear factor 1alpha mRNA, a transcription factor that positively regulates CYP2E1, was strongly increased (154%) in senescent rats.

MeSH Terms

  • Aging
  • Animals
  • Chlorzoxazone
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1
  • Down-Regulation
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic
  • Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-alpha
  • Lipid Peroxidation
  • Male
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Up-Regulation


A mechanistic approach for the scaling of clearance in children.

Clearance is an important pharmacokinetic concept for scaling dosage, understanding the risks of drug-drug interactions and environmental risk assessment in children. Accurate clearance scaling to children requires prior knowledge of adult clearance mechanisms and the age-dependence of physiological and enzymatic development. The objective of this research was to develop and evaluate ontogeny models that would provide an assessment of the age-dependence of clearance. Using in vitro data and/or in vivo clearance values for children for eight compounds that are eliminated primarily by one process, models for the ontogeny of renal clearance, cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4, CYP2E1, CYP1A2, uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 2B7, UGT1A6, sulfonation and biliary clearance were developed. Resulting ontogeny models were evaluated using six compounds that demonstrated elimination via multiple pathways. The proportion of total clearance attributed to each clearance pathway in adults was delineated. Each pathway was individually scaled to the desired age, inclusive of protein-binding prediction, and summed to generate a total plasma clearance for the child under investigation. The paediatric age range included in the study was premature neonates to sub-adults. There was excellent correlation between observed and predicted clearances for the model development (R2 = 0.979) and test sets (Q2 = 0.927). Clearance in premature neonates could also be well predicted (development R2 = 0.951; test Q2 = 0.899). Paediatric clinical trial development could greatly benefit from clearance scaling, particularly in guiding dosing regimens. Furthermore, since the proportion of clearance via different elimination pathways is age-dependent, information could be gained on the developmental extent of drug-drug interactions.

MeSH Terms

  • Aging
  • Bile
  • Child
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System
  • Glomerular Filtration Rate
  • Glucuronides
  • Humans
  • Kidney
  • Liver
  • Models, Statistical
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations
  • Pharmacokinetics
  • Sulfonic Acids


Sex- and strain-dependent effects of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and epicatechin gallate (ECG) in the mouse.

We have previously demonstrated that 50mg/kg of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is hepatotoxic to female Swiss Webster mice, while lower doses of EGCG and epicatechin gallate (ECG) modulate various cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoforms. Therefore, this study was designed to further investigate the role of strain and sex in catechin-mediated enzyme modulation and hepatotoxicity in mice. Male and female BALB/c and male Swiss Webster mice were treated with either ECG or EGCG (25 and 50 mg/kg, ip) for 7 days. The results demonstrated that EGCG (50 mg/kg) produced severe hepatic necrosis, elevated ALT activities and a 20% mortality rate in male Swiss Webster mice and mild hepatotoxicity in male BALB/c mice. In female BALB/c mice the mortality rate was 20%, which correlated with extensive hepatic necrosis. Of the two catechins, only ECG significantly inhibited CYP isoforms. Specifically, prostatic aromatase activity decreased by 31 /-2%, while CYP1A catalytic activity and polypeptide levels were decreased 29 /-6% and 25 /-4%, respectively. However, CYP2E1 and CYP3A activity remained unchanged following ECG administration. Additionally, EGCG did not alter aromatase, CYP1A, CYP3A or CYP2E1 in male Swiss Webster mice. In conclusion, EGCG (50 mg/kg) elicits mortality in both male and female Swiss Webster mice, as well as female BALB/c mice. ECG significantly inhibits both aromatase and CYP1A in male Swiss Webster mice. Therefore, sex-specific modulation of CYP isoforms occurs following administration of EGCG and ECG in Swiss Webster mice.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Antioxidants
  • Aromatase
  • Catechin
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Female
  • Injections, Intraperitoneal
  • Isoenzymes
  • Liver
  • Longevity
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Microsomes, Liver
  • Necrosis
  • Organ Size
  • Sex Factors
  • Species Specificity
  • Spleen


Prediction of drug disposition in infants and children by means of physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modelling: theophylline and midazolam as model drugs.

To create a general physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model for drug disposition in infants and children, covering the age range from birth to adulthood, and to evaluate it with theophylline and midazolam as model drugs. Physiological data for neonates, 0.5-, 1-, 2-, 5-, 10- and 15-year-old children, and adults, of both sexes were compiled from the literature. The data comprised body weight and surface area, organ weights, vascular and interstitial spaces, extracellular body water, organ blood flows, cardiac output and glomerular filtration rate. Tissue: plasma partition coefficients were calculated from rat data and unbound fraction (f u) of the drug in human plasma, and age-related changes in unbound intrinsic hepatic clearance were estimated from CYP1A2 and CYP2E1 (theophylline) and CYP3A4 (midazolam) activities in vitro. Volume of distribution (V dss), total and renal clearance (CL and CL R) and elimination half-life (t(1/2)) were estimated by PBPK modelling, as functions of age, and compared with literature data. The predicted V dss of theophylline was 0.4-0.6 l kg(-1) and showed only a modest change with age. The median prediction error (MPE) compared with literature data was 3.4%. Predicted total CL demonstrated the time-course generally reported in the literature. It was 20 ml h(-1) kg(-1) in the neonate, rising to 73 ml h(-1) kg(-1) at 5 years and then decreasing to 48 ml h(-1) kg(-1) in the adult. Overall, the MPE was - 4.0%. Predicted t(1/2) was 18 h in the neonate, dropping rapidly to 4.6-7.2 h from 6 months onwards, and the MPE was 24%. The predictions for midazolam were also in good agreement with literature data. V dss ranged between 1.0 and 1.7 l kg(-1) and showed only modest change with age. CL was 124 ml h(-1) kg(-1) in the neonate and peaked at 664 ml h(-1) kg(-1) at 5 years before decreasing to 425 ml h(-1) kg(-1) in the adult. Predicted t(1/2) was 6.9 h in the neonate and attained 'adult' values of 2.5-3.5 h from 1 year onwards. A general PBPK model for the prediction of drug disposition over the age range neonate to young adult is presented. A reference source of physiological data was compiled and validated as far as possible. Since studies of pharmacokinetics in children present obvious practical and ethical difficulties, one aim of the work was to utilize maximally already available data. Prediction of the disposition of theophylline and midazolam, two model drugs with dissimilar physicochemical and pharmacokinetic characteristics, yielded results that generally tallied with literature data. Future use of the model may demonstrate further its strengths and weaknesses.

MeSH Terms

  • Adolescent
  • Aging
  • Body Composition
  • Bronchodilator Agents
  • Cardiac Output
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Half-Life
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Liver Circulation
  • Male
  • Midazolam
  • Models, Biological
  • Organ Size
  • Regional Blood Flow
  • Theophylline


Age, gender and region-specific differences in drug metabolising enzymes in rat ocular tissues.

Previously we have reported our analyses of cytochrome P450 (CYP) expression in rat ocular tissues and in our current study we have extended these analyses to the different stages of growth in both male and female rats. Additionally, we have examined the expression levels of the different conjugation enzymes, sulfotransferases (SULTs), UDP-glucuronosyl transferases (UGTs) and glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), in ocular tissues. In 5-week-old animals, the CYP genes, CYP2B2 and CYP3A1, were abundantly expressed in the lens, with higher CYP1A1 expression detectable in the extra-lenticular tissues, of both genders. However, the expression of CYP1A2 and CYP2E1 in female ocular tissues was more extensive than in male. Moreover, in females the expression of the phenol-sulfating SULTs, ST1A1, ST1B1 and ST1C1, was more abundant in the extra-lenticular tissues, whereas the levels of the hydroxysteroid-sulfating SULTs, ST2A1 and ST2A5, predominated in the lens. The expression levels of the UGTs, UGT1A1, UGT1A6 and UGT2B1, were also higher in the female extra-lenticular tissues but the expression of the GSTA subfamily (GSTA1 and GSTA2) was very weak in the ocular tissues of both genders. The overall gene expression profiles were found to change with the age of the animals (from 3 to 8 weeks) and, in general, the expression levels of the CYPs and SULTs declined with age, whereas the levels of the UGTs and GSTs increased. These results demonstrate that the expression profiles of drug metabolising enzymes show both region- and gender-specific patterns in rat ocular tissues.

MeSH Terms

  • Aging
  • Animals
  • Biotransformation
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System
  • Eye
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic
  • Glucuronosyltransferase
  • Male
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sex Characteristics
  • Sulfotransferases


Bioequivalence revisited: influence of age and sex on CYP enzymes.

The activity of cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes, which determine the rate of elimination of lipid-soluble drugs, demonstrates considerable interindividual variability. The extent to which age and sex influence CYP activity remains unclear in humans. Our objectives were to determine whether in vivo activity of selected CYP enzymes is affected by age or sex and to evaluate sex bioequivalence in a large sample size. We have assessed in vivo activity of the CYP1A2, 2C19, 2D6, 2E1, and 3A4 enzymes in 161 normal subjects (51% female subjects and 40% aged >50 years). After simultaneous administration of a cocktail of selective probes (caffeine, mephenytoin, debrisoquin [INN, debrisoquine], chlorzoxazone, and dapsone, respectively), phenotypic indices for metabolism of these drugs were used as measures of individual CYP activity. Sex bioequivalence analysis used the bootstrap method. There were no sex differences associated with CYP1A2 activity. A significant negative correlation (r = -0.572, P < .01) between enzyme activity and age was observed for CYP2C19, but there were no sex differences. CYP2D6 activity showed no dependence on age or sex. In contrast, CYP2E1 activity showed an age-associated increase (r = 0.393, P < .01), which developed earlier in life in male subjects compared with female subjects. These results were further supported by the sex bioequivalence analysis of CYP phenotypic activity, which revealed that sexes were equivalent with respect to CYP2C19 (90% confidence interval [CI], 0.874-1.04), CYP3A4 (90% CI, 0.95-1.176), and CYP2D6 (90% CI, 0.928-1.09) phenotype and just exceeded the 0.8 to 1.25 limits to be equivalent with respect to CYP2E1 (90% CI, 0.785-1.08) and CYP1A2 (90% CI, 0.736-1.03) phenotype. These observations suggest that the presence of selective mechanisms of regulation for individual CYP enzymes can be influenced by age and sex. However, we suggest that sex has a limited ability to explain intersubject variation of activity for these phenotypic measures of CYP enzyme activity.

MeSH Terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Aging
  • Algorithms
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Isoenzymes
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Models, Statistical
  • Phenotype
  • Sex Characteristics
  • Therapeutic Equivalency


Phenacetin and chlorzoxazone biotransformation in aging male Fischer 344 rats.

We evaluated the role of specific isoforms in the biotransformation of phenacetin and chlorzoxazone and examined the effect of age on these reactions using liver microsomes from Fischer 344 rats between 3 and 26 months of age. Using rat cDNA-expressed cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes, we found that phenacetin biotransformation was primarily mediated by CYP2C6 and CYP1A isoforms, while chlorzoxazone biotransformation was largely mediated by CYP2E1 and CYP1A1. Incubations with liver microsomes prepared from rats of varying ages demonstrated that both phenacetin and chlorzoxazone biotransformation declined with age. Metabolite formation rates in the old rats (25-26 months) were reduced by approximately 60-70% for these reactions. This study suggests that the activity of CYP2E and CYP1A enzymes decline with age in the rat liver. Also, the relative specificity of the index substrates phenacetin (for CYP1A2) and chlorzoxazone (for CYP2E1) in man appears not to be applicable in rats.

MeSH Terms

  • Aging
  • Animals
  • Biotransformation
  • Chlorzoxazone
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Isoenzymes
  • Male
  • Microsomes, Liver
  • Phenacetin
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred F344


Tolerance of aged Fischer 344 rats against chlordecone-amplified carbon tetrachloride toxicity.

We have investigated the effects of chlordecone 1(CD) CCl4 combination in adult (3 months), middle aged (14 months), and old aged (24 months) male Fischer 344 (F344) rats. After a non-toxic dietary regimen of CD (10 ppm) or normal powdered diet for 15 days, rats received a single non-toxic dose of CCl4 (100 microl/kg, i.p., 1:4 in corn oil) or corn oil (500 microl/kg, i.p.) alone on day 16. Liver injury was assessed by plasma ALT, AST, and histopathology during a time course of 0-96 h. Liver tissue repair was measured by [3H-CH3]-thymidine (3H-T) incorporation into hepatic nuclear DNA and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunohistochemistry. Hepatomicrosomal CYP2E1 protein, enzyme activity, and covalent binding of 14CCl4-derived radiolabel were measured in normal and CD fed rats. Exposure to CCl4 alone caused modest liver injury only in 14- and 24-month-old rats but neither progression of injury nor mortality. The CD CCl4 combination led to 100% mortality in 3-month-old rats by 72 h, whereas none of the 14- and 24-month-old rats died. Both 3- and 14-month-old rats exposed to CD Cl4 had identical liver injury up to 36 h indicating that bioactivation-mediated CCl4 injury was the same in the two age groups. Thereafter, liver injury escalated only in 3-month-old while it declined in 14-month-old rats. In 24-month-old rats initial liver injury at 6 h was similar to the 3- and 14-month-old rats and thereafter did not develop to the level of the other two age groups, recovering from injury by 96 h as in the 14-month-old rats. Neither hepatomicrosomal CYP2E1 protein nor the associated p-nitrophenol hydroxylase activity or covalent binding of 14CCl4-derived radiolabel to liver tissue differed between the age groups or diet regimens 2 h after the administration of 14CCl4. Compensatory liver tissue repair (3H-T, PCNA) was prompt and robust soon after CCl4 liver injury in the 14- and 24-month-old rats. In stark contrast, in the 3-month-old rats it failed allowing unabated progression of liver injury. These findings suggest that stimulation of early onset and robust liver tissue repair rescue the 14- and 24-month-old F344 rats from the lethal effect of the CD CCl4 combination.

MeSH Terms

  • Aging
  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western
  • Carbon Tetrachloride
  • Cell Nucleus
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury
  • Chlordecone
  • DNA
  • Drug Synergism
  • Enzymes
  • Insecticides
  • Liver
  • Liver Function Tests
  • Male
  • Microsomes, Liver
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred F344
  • Thymidine


Physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling of caffeine and theophylline in neonates and adults: implications for assessing children's risks from environmental agents.

Children's risks can differ from those in adults for numerous reasons, one being differences in the pharmacokinetic handling of chemicals. Immature metabolism and a variety of other factors in neonates can affect chemical disposition and clearance. These factors can be incorporated into physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models that simulate the fate of environmental toxicants in both children and adults. PBPK models are most informative when supported by empirical data, but typically pediatric pharmacokinetic data for toxicants are not available. In contrast, pharmacokinetic data in children are readily available for therapeutic drugs. The current analysis utilizes data for caffeine and theophylline, closely related xanthines that are both cytochrome P-450 (CYP) 1A2 substrates, in developing PBPK models for neonates and adults. Model development involved scale-up of in vitro metabolic parameters to whole liver and adjusting metabolic function for the ontological pattern of CYP1A2 and other CYPs. Model runs were able to simulate the large differences in half-life and clearance between neonates and adults. Further, the models were able to reproduce the faster metabolic clearance of theophylline relative to caffeine in neonates. This differential between xanthines was found to be due primarily to an extra metabolic pathway available to theophylline, back-methylation to caffeine, that is not available to caffeine itself. This pathway is not observed in adults exemplifying the importance of secondary or novel routes of metabolism in the immature liver. Greater CYP2E1 metabolism of theophylline relative to caffeine in neonates also occurs. Neonatal PBPK models developed for these drugs may be adapted to other CYP1A2 substrates (e.g., arylamine toxicants). A stepwise approach for modeling environmental toxicants in children is proposed.

MeSH Terms

  • Adult
  • Aging
  • Caffeine
  • Environmental Exposure
  • Half-Life
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Liver
  • Metabolic Clearance Rate
  • Models, Biological
  • Risk Factors
  • Theophylline
  • Tissue Distribution


Age-related changes in the protein and mRNA levels of CYP2E1 and CYP3A isoforms as well as in their hepatic activities in Wistar rats. What role for oxidative stress?

Drug biotransformation and its therapeutic effect may be modified during ageing. Among different causative factors of ageing, the impairment of normal cellular functions by free radicals has been evoked as playing a critical role. The effect of age on the expression and activity of CYP2E1 and CYP3A was investigated in male Wistar rats of 3, 8, 11 and 18 months old. The total cytochrome P450 as well as the expression and the activity (midazolam oxidation) of CYP3A isoforms did not change until 18 months of age. Chlorzoxazone hydroxylation (CYP2E1 activity) increased from 3 to 8 months, remained constant between 8 and 11 months and then progressively decreased until 18 months. Interestingly, CYP2E1 microsomal protein followed the same enzyme activity profile from 3 to 8 months, but remained constant thereafter. The level of CYP2E1 mRNA did not change over the whole period. While the amount of proteins did not change after 8 months, their functionality may be affected by oxidative stress (increase in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, decrease in reduced glutathione level). However, no changes in carbonyl protein content were observed. The decrease in CYP2E1 activity in rats after 11 months is most probably due to post-translational modifications of CYP2E1 proteins. Indeed, it may be correlated with an accumulation of oxidative damage. Since no change was observed in CYP3A activity or in their protein and mRNA content, it seems that such isoforms should be less affected by oxidative stress.

MeSH Terms

  • Age Factors
  • Aging
  • Animals
  • Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases
  • Blotting, Western
  • Chlorzoxazone
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A
  • Cytosol
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic
  • Isoenzymes
  • Lipid Peroxidation
  • Liver
  • Male
  • Microsomes, Liver
  • Midazolam
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Oxidoreductases, N-Demethylating
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction


Epigallocatechin gallate modulates CYP450 isoforms in the female Swiss-Webster mouse.

This study was designed to determine the effect of the in vivo administration of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and epicatechin gallate (ECG) on enzymes involved in the synthesis and metabolism of estradiol. EGCG (12.5, 25, or 50 mg/kg/day, i.p.) or ECG (12.5 or 25 mg/kg/day, i.p.) was administered to female Swiss-Webster mice for 7 days. The chemicals were well tolerated by the mice with the exception of EGCG given at 50 mg/kg, which resulted in severe hepatic necrosis and a 67% mortality rate. Following the administration of nontoxic doses of EGCG and ECG, aromatase (CYP19), CYP3A, CYP1A, and catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT) were measured. Additionally, the activity of CYP2E1 was determined, since this CYP450 isoform is important in the bioactivation of numerous carcinogens. The results demonstrated that ovarian aromatase activity was inhibited 56% by EGCG (25 and 12.5 mg/kg), but not ECG, while hepatic CYP3A catalytic activity and polypeptide levels were increased 31 /- 4 and 47 /- 2%, respectively, by 25 mg/kg of EGCG. However, ECG (but not EGCG) inhibited CYP1A catalytic activity and polypeptide levels (31 /- 5 and 47 /- 5%, respectively). Hepatic and renal COMT, as well as renal CYP3A remained unchanged following catechin dosing. Hepatic CYP2E1 catalytic activity and polypeptide levels were significantly increased (37 /- 3 and 22 /- 3%) following administration of EGCG (25 mg/kg). These results indicate that EGCG modulates enzymes responsible for both the synthesis and metabolism of estradiol, which may provide a potential mechanism for the reported action of EGCG, reported action as an inhibitor of breast tumor growth.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Catechin
  • Catechol O-Methyltransferase
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Female
  • Injections, Intraperitoneal
  • Kidney
  • Liver
  • Longevity
  • Mice
  • Necrosis
  • Ovary
  • Protein Isoforms


Acute, short-term, and subchronic oral toxicity of 1,1,1-trichloroethane in rats.

1,1,1-Trichloroethane (TRI) is a widely used solvent that has become a frequent contaminant of drinking water supplies in the U.S. There is very little information available on the potential for oral TRI to damage the liver or to alter its P450 metabolic capacity. Thus, a major objective of this investigation was to assess the acute, short-term, and subchronic hepatotoxicity of oral TRI. In the acute study, male Sprague-Dawley (S-D) rats were gavaged with 0, 0.5, 1, 2, or 4 g TRI/kg bw and killed 24 h later. No acute effects were apparent other than CNS depression. Other male S-D rats received 0, 0.5, 5, or 10 g TRI/kg po once daily for 5 consecutive days, rested for 2 days, and were dosed for 4 additional days. Groups of the animals were sacrificed for evaluation of hepatotoxicity 1, 5, and 12 days after initiation of the short-term experiment. This dosage regimen caused numerous fatalities at 5 and 10 g/kg, but no increases in serum enzymes or histopathological changes in the liver. For the subchronic study, male S-D rats were gavaged 5 times weekly with 0, 0.5, 2.5, or 5.0 g TRI/kg for 50 days. The 0 and 0.5 g/kg groups were dosed for 13 weeks. A substantial number of rats receiving 2.5 and 5.0 g/kg died, apparently due to effects of repeated, protracted CNS depression. There was evidence of slight hepatocytotoxicity at 10 g/kg, but no progression of injury nor appearance of adverse effects were seen during acute or short-term exposure. Ingestion of 0.5 g/kg over 13 weeks did not cause apparent CNS depression, body or organ weight changes, clinical chemistry abnormalities, histopathological changes in the liver, or fatalities. Additional experiments did reveal that 0.5 g/kg and higher doses induced hepatic microsomal cytochrome P450IIE1 (CYP2E1) in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Induction of CYP2E1 activity occurred sooner, but was of shorter duration than CYP2B1/2 induction. CYP1A1 activity was not enhanced. In summary, 0.5 g/kg po was the acute, short-term, and subchronic NOAEL for TRI, for effects other than transient CYP2E1 induction, under the conditions of this investigation. Oral TRI appears to have very limited capacity to induce P450s or to cause liver injury in male S-D rats, even when administered repeatedly by gavage in near-lethal or lethal dosages under conditions intended to maximize hepatic effects.

MeSH Terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Alanine Transaminase
  • Animals
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Enzyme Induction
  • L-Iditol 2-Dehydrogenase
  • Liver
  • Longevity
  • Male
  • Microsomes, Liver
  • Organ Size
  • Ornithine Carbamoyltransferase
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Solvents
  • Toxicity Tests
  • Trichloroethanes
  • Weight Gain


Deficiency of N-methylpurine-DNA-glycosylase expression in nonparenchymal cells, the target cell for vinyl chloride and vinyl fluoride.

The ability to repair promutagenic damage resulting from exposure to carcinogens is a critical factor in determining quantitative relationships in carcinogenesis, including the target cell for neoplasia. One major pathway for the repair of alkylating agent-induced DNA damage involves removal of alkylated bases by N-methylpurine-DNA-glycosylase (MPG), the first enzyme in base excision repair. We have measured the expression level of MPG mRNA in liver, lung, and kidney of Sprague-Dawley rats as a function of age. A quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (QRT-PCR) method was used to measure cellular MPG mRNA. MPG mRNA was readily detectable in each tissue analyzed and the age-dependent and tissue specific expressions were not statistically different. The lowest amount of mRNA was measured in preweanling liver and the highest amounts were found in preweanling lung and kidney. Since MPG is reported to be responsible for excision of 1,N(6)-ethenoadenine and N(2),3-ethenoguanine, two promutagenic DNA adducts of vinyl chloride (VC) and vinyl fluoride (VF), we examined the regulation of this enzyme after carcinogen exposure. Expression of MPG was induced in rat liver by these carcinogens. In order to determine the repair capacity in different cell populations of liver, we measured MPG gene expression in isolated hepatocytes and nonparenchymal cells (NPC). The amount of MPG mRNA was 4.5-5 times higher in hepatocytes than in NPC of control rats. Induction of MPG expression was observed in hepatocytes of VF exposed-rats but not in NPC. The expression of MPG in NPC was only 15% of that of the hepatocytes from exposed rats. Western blots of MPG protein confirmed the cell type differences, but did not show increased protein in exposed vs. control liver and hepatocytes. Since metabolism of VC and VF requires CYP2E1, an enzyme exhibiting much greater activity in hepatocytes, formation of etheno adducts preferentially occurs in hepatocytes. These data suggest that cellular differences in the repair of N-alkylpurines may be a critical mechanism in the development of cell specificity in VC carcinogenesis.

MeSH Terms

  • Aging
  • Alkylating Agents
  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western
  • Carcinogens
  • DNA Glycosylases
  • Enzyme Induction
  • Kidney
  • Liver
  • Lung
  • Male
  • Mutagens
  • N-Glycosyl Hydrolases
  • Organ Specificity
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Vinyl Chloride
  • Vinyl Compounds


Characterization of cytochrome P450 and glutathione S-transferase activity and expression in male and female ob/ob mice.

To characterize the effect(s) of gender, age (glycemic status) and obese state, on hepatic biotransformation activities, expression of cytochrome P450 (CYP450) mRNAs and glutathione transferase activity in the ob/ob mouse. Male and female, ob/ob or ob/ mice were killed at 3-4 months or 7-8 months of age. Hepatic microsomes, cytosol and RNA were prepared from each animal. Male and female ob/ob and ob/ mice, 3-4 or 7-8 months of age. CYP450 form-specific activities of CYP1A1/1A2, CYP3A and CYP2B were estimated by determining the 0-dealkylation of alkoxyresorufin substrates (ethoxy-EROD, benzoxy-BROD and pentoxy-resorufin, PROD, respectively). CYP2E1-dependent, 4-nitrophenol hydroxylase (PNP-OH) and CYP3A-dependent erythromycin N-demethylase (ERY-DM) were also measured in hepatic microsomes. CYP1A2, CYP2E1 and CYP3A protein in microsomal fractions was determined by ELISA. Glutathione transferase activity (GST) was determined in hepatic cytosol and CYP1A2 and CYP2E1 mRNA was estimated by Northern blot analysis. Female mice, regardless of glycemic status, showed an obesity enhanced level of CYP2E1-dependent PNP-OH activity and CYP2E1 protein as shown by ELISA. These increases were observed to be independent of the diabetic state, since 7-8 month-old mice had blood glucose levels identical to lean mice. The mRNA level of CYP2E1 in female mice also exhibited age-and obesity-influenced decreases in expression. No significant differences in CYP2E1 activity or expression were observed in male mice. CYP3A-dependent ERY-DM activity was significantly higher in young males, regardless of phenotype. CYP3A and CYP2B activities did not differ among any animals; however, CYP1A activity, while depressed in obese animals of both genders, was significantly different in old animals. Glutathione S-transferase activity was lower in obese male mice, whereas no difference was observed between lean and obese females This study supports earlier observations in man and rats that the obese state produces alterations in the expression of important oxidation and conjugation pathways. In addition, this report more thoroughly examines the role of gender and glycemic status on biotransformation activities in the ob/ob mouse as demonstrated by increased CYP2E1 protein and CYP2E1-dependent activity in obese females, decreased CYP1A2 protein and CYP1A2-dependent activity in obese animals, and obesity had no effect of glutathione transferase in female mice, in contrast with the previously reported obesity-dependent decrease of this activity in male mice.

MeSH Terms

  • Aging
  • Animals
  • Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases
  • Biotransformation
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System
  • Diabetes Mellitus
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic
  • Glutathione Transferase
  • Liver
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Obese
  • Obesity
  • Oxidoreductases, N-Demethylating
  • RNA, Messenger


In vivo age-related changes in hepatic drug-oxidizing capacity in humans.

Very few studies have been carried out looking at how the effects of drugs and their toxicity in humans change during their lifespan (developing and ageing). The purpose of this study is to review the literature on the changes in probe-drug metabolism, classified by cytochrome P450 (P450 or CYP) at five stages in life: neonates < 4 weeks, infants < 12 months, children < 19 years, young/mature adults 20-64 years, and elderly adults > 65 years. The main probe drugs include caffeine and theophylline, whose metabolism is catalysed by CYP1A2, tolbutamide, phenytoin and ibuprofen, catalysed by CYP2C9, amitriptyline and nortriptyline, catalysed by CYP2C19, acetaminophen, catalysed by CYP2E1 and lidocaine, midazolam and terfenadine, catalysed by 3A3/4. From the published in vivo studies two different patterns of drug metabolism can be identified: (i) activity is low immediately after birth, increases, then peaks at the young/mature adult level and, finally, decreases in old age (drugs catalysed by CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6 and CYP3A3/4) and (ii) activity increases rapidly after birth to reach a level equivalent to that in the young/mature adult, then gradually decreases and finally decreasing faster in old age (drugs catalysed by CYP2E1). Further study of the changes in P450 with age is warranted to help prevent adverse reactions and to guide us in tailoring therapy better for the individual patient.

MeSH Terms

  • Aging
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System
  • Humans
  • Isomerism


A review of developmental aspects of cytochrome P450.

This article surveys the development of human hepatic P450 cytochromes (CYPs) involved in xenobiotic metabolism from the fetus through the life span and explores possible clinical consequences of developmental issues. These hepatic P450 CYPs come "on line" at different times during fetal and infant development, and each one is discussed in that temporal sequence. CYP3A7. the major fetal hepatic cytochrome, is present during organogenesis, and it is involved in steroid metabolism. Variably expressed in some fetuses, CYP3A5 is also present at significant levels in about half of all children. In adults, CYP3A4 is the major functional member of the CYP3A subfamily. CYP1A1 is also present during organogenesis, and it metabolizes exogenous toxins, some of which are procarcinogens. CYP2E1 may be present in some second-trimester fetuses, and it may be involved in prenatal alcohol metabolism. After birth, hepatic CYP2D6 and CYP2C8/9 and CYP2C18/19 become active. Both CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 have genetic polymorphisms that can bring about differing capacities to metabolize exogenous drugs, including psychotropic drugs. CYP1A2 becomes active in the fourth to fifth postfetal months. It provides the best current examples of the importance of developmental changes in xenobiotic-metabolizing P450 CYPs through its metabolism of caffeine and theophylline in premature infants, neonates, and adolescents.

MeSH Terms

  • Aging
  • Animals
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System
  • Female
  • Fetus
  • Humans
  • Liver
  • Pregnancy
  • Xenobiotics


Delayed ontogenesis of CYP1A2 in the human liver.

The ontogenesis of CYP1A proteins was investigated in a human liver bank composed of fetal, neonatal and adult samples. In immunoblots, a polyclonal antibody raised against rat CYP1A1, cross-reacted with cDNA-expressed human CYP1A1 and CYP1A2. In adult liver microsomes, this antibody reacted with a single band identified as the CYP1A2 protein, while no CYP1A1 could be detected. CYP1A2 protein was absent in microsomes prepared from fetal and neonatal livers and its levels increased in infants aged 1-3 months to attain 50% of the adult value at one year. Enzymatic activities supported by CYP1A proteins were assayed on these samples. Methoxyresorufin demethylase supported by the CYP1A2 recombinant protein followed the same ontogenic profile as the CYP1A2 protein. In liver microsomes, the demethylation of imipramine was essentially due to CYP1A2 and to a smaller extent to CYP3A. In fetuses and early neonates, CYP3A proteins were responsible for the low demethylation of imipramine (3-4% of the adult activity) before the onset of CYP1A2 and the subsequent rise of activity. Immunodetection and enzymatic activities were consistent with the absence of CYP1A1 and the late expression of CYP1A2 in the human liver, compared to the early rise of CYP3A4, CYP2C, CYP2D6, and CYP2E1 proteins.

MeSH Terms

  • Adult
  • Aging
  • Animals
  • COS Cells
  • Cell Line
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System
  • Fetus
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Liver
  • Microsomes, Liver
  • Rats
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Substrate Specificity
  • Transfection


CYP2D6, NAT2 and CYP2E1 genetic polymorphisms in nonagenarians.

enzymatic polymorphisms affecting the metabolic disposition of xenobiotics may modulate the rate of activation or deactivation of carcinogens and other toxic environmental chemicals. Hence, these polymorphisms may influence the risk of suffering some types of cancer and other degenerative diseases that are incompatible with extreme longevity. to establish the distribution of three well known enzymatic polymorphisms that affect the CYP2D6, NAT-2 and CYP2E1 genes and the activity of their enzymatic gene products, involved in the disposition of many xenobiotics, in a group of nonagenarians and in much younger controls. the three genotypes were determined in 41 nonagenarians (10 males, mean age 92.2 years, range 90-98) free of known malignancies or neurodegenerative diseases. The control groups comprised 217 healthy volunteers (128 males, mean age 36.3 years; SD, 12.7) for the CYP2D6 and NAT2 genotypes and 137 (116 males, mean age 32 years; SD, 18.8) for the CYP2E1 genotype. after extraction of DNA from white blood cells, polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment polymorphism methods were used to identify the allelic variants of the three genotypes. we found no qualitative or quantitative difference in the mutations underlying the three genetic polymorphisms studied, nor in the expected enzymatic phenotypes. Instead, a close parallelism exists between advanced age and younger groups. longevity does not seem to be related to any special configuration of these three polymorphic traits. Comparisons with younger controls may be adequate when studying the distribution of these polymorphisms in diseases affecting old people. No genetically determined differences in the activation of drugs metabolized by these enzymes are to be expected in very old people.

MeSH Terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alleles
  • Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Inactivation, Metabolic
  • Longevity
  • Male
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Polymorphism, Genetic
  • Reference Values


Drug metabolic enzymes in developmental toxicology.

Although much is known about the metabolism of environmental toxicants in adult organisms, little information exists on the role of cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes during development. The developing organism is remarkably dynamic, presenting a constantly changing metabolic profile as various enzyme systems are activated or repressed. This may explain the markedly different sensitivities to various toxicants that are exhibited throughout the developmental period. The application of molecular biological methods has provided important information on the roles of these enzymes in modulating the response of the developing organism to toxicological exposures. The first talk will focus on the identification and role of CYPs during early organogenesis, particularly on how these enzymes influence the response of the conceptus and early embryo to toxic chemicals. The second presentation will discuss the identification of CYPs expressed during human development, as many of the enzymes present in adults are not expressed in the fetus. The third speaker will discuss the developmental consequences of loss of expression of particular metabolic enzymes, focusing on recent studies employing knockout mice to examine the role of drug metabolic enzymes during development. The last two talks will discuss some of the short- and long-term consequences of in utero exposures to toxic chemicals and the role of CYP in modulating the toxic response of the developing organism. The first of these will focus on the role of CYP2E1 in human fetuses during late gestation and the response of this enzyme to inducing agents such as alcohol. The last talk will discuss the role of CYP1A1 in the activation of the Ki-ras oncogene following in utero exposure to carcinogens as a mechanism for lung tumor formation in a pharmacogenetic mouse model.

MeSH Terms

  • Aging
  • Animals
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System
  • Embryonic and Fetal Development
  • Environmental Pollutants
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Pregnancy
  • Teratogens


Developmental expression of CYP2E1 in the human liver. Hypermethylation control of gene expression during the neonatal period.

Cytochromes P-450 are responsible for the biotransformation of drugs and other hydrophobic molecules by the liver. Several isoforms coexist which display an asynchronous onset during the perinatal period suggesting the involvement of multiple mechanisms of regulation. In this paper, we have shown that the CYP2E1 protein and its associated activity could not be detected in the fetal liver and rise during the first few hours following birth independently of the gestational age (between 25-40 weeks). During this period, the CYP2E1 RNA content remains fairly low: the stabilization of the low amount of existing CYP2E1 protein by endogenous ketone bodies could explain the early neonatal rise of the protein level. From 1 month to 1 year, the protein content gradually increases and is accompanied by the accumulation of CYP2E1 RNA, suggesting a transcriptional activation of the gene during the late neonatal period. We examined the methylation status of CpG residues in the 5' flanking region, first exon and first intron of CYP2E1 gene cleaved with HpaII/MspI. Genomic DNA from fetal liver shows several hypermethylated spots in the first-exon-first-intron region, which progressively disappear in neonatal samples. We conclude that during the neonatal period, the accumulation of hepatic CYP2E1 RNA is correlated with the degree of methylation at the 5' end of the CYP2E1 gene.

MeSH Terms

  • Adult
  • Aging
  • Base Sequence
  • Blotting, Southern
  • Chlorzoxazone
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System
  • DNA Probes
  • Fetus
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Gestational Age
  • Humans
  • Hydroxylation
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Liver
  • Methylation
  • Microsomes, Liver
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nucleic Acid Hybridization
  • Oxidoreductases, N-Demethylating
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Restriction Mapping


The influence of aging on dimethylnitrosamine-demethylase enzyme kinetics in rat liver microsomes.

To investigate the observed age-related increased susceptibility to chemically-induced carcinogenesis, liver microsomes from 12- or 36-month-old rats either untreated or maximally induced with phenobarbital or isoniazid were used to determine the Vmax and Km for dimethylnitrosamine-demethylase (DMNA-d). A decrease in cytochrome P450 content between young and old animals was observed in the untreated group, but no change was seen in the treated animals. Inducer-related increases were observed after phenobarbital treatment and in the 36-month-old isoniazid-treated group. The Vmax for DMNA-d did not change between 12 and 36 months of age in all experimental groups, but significant changes between the young and old age-group and inducer-related differences were observed in the Km,app for DMNA-d. A high correlation was found between the Cl(int) (= Vmax/Km,app) of DMNA-d and the Vmax of p-nitrophenol-hydroxylation, indicating a major role for CYP2E1 in the metabolism of DMNA-d. The observed changes in the cytochrome-P450 levels and the reduced affinity in DMNA-d metabolism in the untreated group in this study is another indication that aging predominately affects the activity of some constitutive cytochrome P450 enzymes but not the activity of the inducible types of P450.

MeSH Terms

  • Aging
  • Animals
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System
  • Glutathione Transferase
  • Isoniazid
  • Liver Neoplasms
  • Male
  • Microsomes, Liver
  • Mixed Function Oxygenases
  • Organ Size
  • Oxidoreductases, N-Demethylating
  • Phenobarbital
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred BN


Marked endogenous activation of the CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 genes in the congenitally jaundiced Gunn rat.

The homozygous recessive jaundiced Gunn rat lacks expression of bilirubin UDP-glucuronosyltransferase and serves as a model for Crigler-Najjar syndrome type I, in which high and toxic plasma levels of bilirubin result from this genetic defect in bilirubin conjugation. Both rats and humans dispose of this heme waste product by an alternate metabolic route that involves oxidation of the compound, followed by biliary excretion of the more polar metabolites. To determine the role of cytochrome P450 in this process, hepatic levels of cytochrome P450 mRNA and protein were measured in jaundiced and nonjaundiced Gunn rats as a function of age and sex. The mRNA and protein levels of cytochrome P450(CYP) 1A1 and CYP1A2 were markedly elevated in the jaundiced rats at the age of 10 days, compared with their nonjaundiced littermates. Levels of CYP2E1 mRNA and protein did not differ between these rats, indicating that the CYP1A P450 genes were specifically induced. CYP1A1 mRNA and protein levels increased further in the jaundiced animals between 10 days and 1 month of postnatal life but remained undetectable in the nonjaundiced littermates. On the other hand, CYP1A2 mRNA and protein content increased during this time period in both jaundiced and nonjaundiced rats, but at the age of 1 month there were no major differences between the two groups. CYP1A2 mRNA and protein levels were indistinguishable in 3-month-old jaundiced and nonjaundiced Gunn rats, whereas CYP1A1 could not be detected in either group. These data suggest that young jaundiced Gunn rats cope with the degradation of toxic bilirubin by increasing hepatic levels of CYP1A1 and CYP1A2. On the other hand, normal developmental activation of CYP1A2 may provide the alternative pathway for bilirubin degradation in adult animals. This is the first demonstration of the induction of cytochrome P450 gene expression to permit the elimination of an endogenously generated neurotoxic chemical in a genetic disease in which the normal excretory mechanism is impaired.

MeSH Terms

  • Aging
  • Animals
  • Crigler-Najjar Syndrome
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic
  • Male
  • Microsomes, Liver
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Rats
  • Rats, Gunn


Role of the liver-enriched transcription factor HNF-1 alpha in expression of the CYP2E1 gene.

The role of the trans-acting factor HNF-1 alpha in activating CYP2E1 gene expression was confirmed by transient co-transfection of an HNF-1 alpha expression plasmid and the CYP2E1 promoter fused to the chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) reporter gene. Only HNF-1 alpha, and not HNF-1 beta, HNF-4, C/EBP alpha, C/EBP beta, or DBP, was able to activate the CYP2E1 promoter. The extent of activation was proportional to the number of copies of the HNF-1 binding sequence upstream of the promoter. Removal or mutation of the HNF-1 binding sequence led to inactivation of the promoter in response to HNF-1 alpha. Gel-shift Western blot analysis using a synthetic HNF-1 binding sequence derived from CYP2E1 and rat liver nuclear extract revealed that the protein-DNA complex obtained with adult rat liver nuclear extract consisted of both HNF-1 alpha and HNF-1 beta proteins. The shifted bands produced by nuclear extracts from adult, where the endogenous CYP2E1 gene is active, and fetal rat liver, where the gene is inactive, were found to migrate differently, suggesting that the population of factors, possibly including different ratios of HNF-1 alpha and HNF-1 beta proteins, may change during development. However, the co-transfection study did not show cooperativity between the two factors. Elements upstream of the HNF-1 binding site were found to affect the activity of the promoter negatively in the transfection assay. DNase I hypersensitive site mapping revealed a hypersensitive site in this inhibiting element in the adult rat liver sample but not in liver from newborn animals.

MeSH Terms

  • Aging
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Cell Line
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Deoxyribonuclease I
  • Fetus
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic
  • Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1
  • Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-alpha
  • Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-beta
  • Humans
  • Liver
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides
  • Oxidoreductases, N-Demethylating
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Protein Binding
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Rats
  • Restriction Mapping
  • Transcription Factors


Differences in the developmental expression of rabbit cytochromes P-450 2E1 and 2E2.

The alcohol-inducible CYP2E subfamily in rabbits contains two genes; CYP2E1 encodes the cytochrome earlier termed P-450 3a, and CYP2E2 encodes a cytochrome that is 97% identical in amino acid sequence to cytochrome P-450 (P-450) 2E1. In the present studies, the ontogenic expression of these two cytochromes was examined. In liver, P-450 2E2 mRNA is detectable immediately after birth and reaches slightly greater than the adult level at 2 weeks of age; in contrast, P-450 2E1 mRNA is not detectable until day 14 and increases rapidly to approximately twice the adult level at 5 weeks of age. P-450 2E protein is present in liver immediately after birth, coincident with the appearance of P-450 2E2 mRNA, peaks at 2 weeks, and then, despite the continued elevation in P-450 2E mRNA, decreases to the adult level at 5 weeks. In kidney, P-450 2E2 mRNA is not detectable at any age; P-450 2E1 mRNA, however, is present at 1 week, and the level increases to about half the adult level at 5 weeks of age. P-450 2E protein in this tissue is elevated at 2 weeks, relative to mRNA levels, and reaches approximately half the adult level at 5 weeks. The lack of close correlation between mRNA and protein levels in the liver and kidney of newborn rabbits indicates that the posttranscriptional control of P-450 2E enzyme levels that predominates in adult animals is also operative during the neonatal period. Monooxygenase activities with ethanol and p-nitrophenol as substrates reflect the developmental increase in P-450 2E protein, as well as the appearance and levels of spectrally detectable P-450, cytochrome b5, and NADPH-P-450 reductase in hepatic microsomes. The expression of P-450 2E2, but not P-450 2E1, in early neonates suggests that these two closely related cytochromes may have functional differences that are important during the first few weeks of life.

MeSH Terms

  • Aging
  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System
  • Cytochromes b5
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic
  • Isoenzymes
  • Kidney
  • Liver
  • Microsomes, Liver
  • NADPH-Ferrihemoprotein Reductase
  • Pregnancy
  • Rabbits